Visit to Bryce Canyon National Park

On Wednesday, we drove on Utah 12, a Scenic Byway, to Bryce City, just outside Bryce Canyon National Park.  The drive was spectacular, but very challenging:  near Escalante, UT, there is a 14% downgrade!  I've never encountered anything steeper than 8% before!  We had to stop in a few places for cattle in the roadway, because much of Utah has "open range" with no fences to keep livestock in their own yard.

In Bryce Canyon, we had to continue to drive carefully to protect the wildlife there.  We didn't see any Prairie Dogs in the park, but we did see this beautiful Pronghorn buck escorting a herd of about 10 females.

We visited several places where we could overlook the astounding geological features of Bryce Canyon.

Then we had lunch at a picnic table in the nearby forest.  The forest is on gently rolling land that gives no hint of the spectacular canyon nearby.

Later I went back to experience "the most beautiful 3-mile hike in the world".